ThenevenasIwasIwentintomyLadyandtoldhertheendofmytale，andinthreeminutesshelayinmyarms，andinthreedaysinmybedasmyweddedwife。AstoAgatha，whenIhadalittlejeeredher，Igaveherrichgiftsandgoodlands，andfreedom，tobootherforhermanystripes。
　　Andlothere，King’sSonandSweetLady，theendofallmytale。”
　　“Yea。”quothOtter，“savingthis，thatevenalreadythouhasraisedupUtterbolfromHelltoEarth，andyetmeseemeththouhastgood-willtoraiseithigher。”
　　Bullreddenedathisword，andsaid：“Tush，man！praisethedaywhenthesunhasset。”ThenheturnedtoRalph，andsaid：
　　“Yetcouldstthouatwhilesputinagoodwordformehereandthereamongstthefolksthatthoushaltpassthroughonthywayshome，IwerefaintoknowthatIhadawell-speakingfriendabroad。”
　　“Weshalldonoless。”saidRalph；andUrsulaspakeinlikewise。
　　Sotheytalkedtogethermerrilyawhilelonger，tillnightbegantogrowold，andthenwenttotheirchambersinallcontentandgood-liking。
　　TheyRideFromValeTurris。RedheadTellsofAgathaOnthemorrowwhentheyarose，Ralphheardthesoundofhorsesandtheclashingofarms：hewenttothewindow，andlookedout，andsawhowthespearsstoodupthicktogetherattheTower’sfoot，andknewthatthesewerethemenwhoweretobehisfellowsbytheway。
　　Theircaptainhesaw，abigmanall-armedinsteel，buthimseemedthatheknewhisfaceunderhissallet，andpresentlysawthatitwasRedhead。
　　Hewasgladthereof，andcladhimselfhastily，andwentouta-doors，andwentuptohimandhailedhim，andRedheadleaptoffhishorse，andcasthisarmsaboutRalph，andmademuchofhim，andsaid：
　　“Itisgoodforsoreeyestoseethee，lord；andIamgladatheartthatallwentwellwiththeethattime。Although，forsooth，therewasguilebehindit。YetwhereasIwottednothingthereof，whichI
　　willpraytheetobelieve，andwhereasthouhastthegainofall，Ideemthoumaystpardonme。”
　　SaidRalph：“Thouhastwhatpardonofmethouneedest；sobecontent。
　　Fortherest，littleneedistheretoaskifthouthrivest，forIbeholdtheegladandwellhonoured。”
　　AstheyspokecametheLordforthfromtheTower，andsaid：
　　“Comethou，LordRalph，andeatwithuserethoutakesttotheroad；
　　ImeanwithOtterandme。Asforthee，Redhead，ifaughtofillbefallthisKing’sSonunderthyway-leading，looktoitthatthoushaltlosemygoodwordwithAgatha；yea，orgainmynaysayherein；
　　wherebythoushaltmissbothfeeandfairdame。”
　　RedheadlookedsheepishlyonRalphatthatword，yetwinkedathimalso，asifitpleasedhimtobejeeredconcerninghiswooing；
　　sothatRalphsawhowthelandlay，andthattheguilefulhandmaidwasnotillcontentwiththatbigman。Sohesmiledkindlyonhimandnodded，andwentbackwithBullintotheTower。
　　Theretheysatdownalltomeattogether；andwhentheyweredonewiththeirvictual，Bullspake，andsaidtoRalph：
　　“FairKing’sSon，isthisthenthelastsightofthee？wiltthounevercomeoverthemountainsagain？”SaidRalph：“Whoknoweth？
　　Iamyoungyet，andhavedrunkoftheWateroftheWell。”
　　Bullgrewsomewhatpensiveandsaid：“Yea，thoumeanestthatthoumayestcomebackandfindmenolongerhere。
　　Yetifthoufindestbutmygrave-mound，yetmayhappenthoushaltcomeonsomethingsaidorsungofme，whichshallpleasethee。
　　ForIwilltellthee，thatthouhastchangedmyconditions；
　　how，Iwotnot。”
　　“Thywordisgood。”saidRalph，“yetImeantnotthat；nevershouldIcometoUtterbolifIlookednottofindtheelivingthere。”
　　Bullsmiledonhimasthoughhelovedhim，andsaid：
　　“Thisiswellspoken；IshalllooktoseetheebeforeIdie。”
　　ThensaidUrsula：“LordofUtterbol，thisalsothoumaystthinkon，thatitisnofurtherfromUtterboltoUpmeadsthanfromUpmeadstoUtterbol。”
　　TheLordlaughedandsaid：“Soothisthat；andwerebutmyBullhere，asIbeholdyouIshouldbeofmindtoswearbyhimtocomeandseeyouatUpmeadseretenyearshaveworn。”
　　Thensheputforthherhandandsaid：“Swearbythis！”
　　Sohetookitandsworetheoath；buttheSageofSwevenhamsaid：
　　“ThisoaththoushaltkeeptothegainandnotthelossbothoftheeandofthyfriendsofUpmeads。”
　　Thusweretheyfainofeachother，andRalphsawhowBull’sheartwasgrownbig，andherejoicedthereat。Butanonhearoseandsaid：
　　“Now，Lord，weaskleavetodepartforthewayislong，andmayhappenmykindrednowlackaman’shelping。ThenBullstoodupandcalledforhishorse，andOtteralso，andtheyallwentforthandgata-horsebackandrodeawayfromValeTurris，andRedheadrodebehindthemhumbly，tillitwasnoonandtheymadestayformeat。
　　ThenaftertheyhadbrokenbreadtogetheranddrunkacupBullandOtterkissedthewayfarers，andbadethemfarewellandsorodebacktoValeTurris，andRalphandUrsulaandtheSagetarriednotbutrodeontheirways。
　　ButanonRalphcalledtoRedhead，andbadehimridebesidethemthattheymighttalktogether，andhecameupwiththem，andUrsulagreetedhimkindly，andtheyweremerryonewithanother。
　　AndRalphsaidtoRedhead：“Friendcaptain，thouartexceedinginhumilitynottoridewiththeLordorCaptainOtter；
　　saveforchance-hap，Iseenotthatthouartworserthanthey。”
　　Redheadgrinned，andsaid：“Well，astoOtter，thatisalltrue；
　　butasforLordBullitisanothermatter；Iwotnotbuthiskindredmaybeasgoodorbetterthananyintheseeastparts。
　　Inanycase，hehathhiskinandlongdescentfullofteninhismouth，whileIambutagangrelbody。Howbeititisallone，whereaswhatsoheorOtterbidanymantodo，hedoethit，butmybiddingmaybequestionedatwhiles。
　　Andlookyou，lord，timesarenotill，sowhereforeshouldI
　　riskachangeofdays？Soothtosay，boththesegreatlordshavedonewellbyme。”
　　Ralphlaughed：“Andbetterwilltheydo，asthoudeemest；
　　givetheeAgatha，towit？”“Yea，fairsir。”quothRedhead。
　　“Nogreatgift，thatseemethtome，forthyvaliancy。”
　　saidRalph；“sheisguilefulenoughandlooseenoughforaworsemanthanthee。”
　　“Lord。”saidRedhead，“evenofherthoushaltsaywhatpleaseththee；
　　butnoothermanshallsayofherwhatpleasethmenot。
　　Forallthatiscomeandgonesheistrueandvaliant，andnonemaysaythatsheisnotfairandsweetenoughforabettermanthanme；
　　andmygreatgoodluckitisthat，asIhope，shelookethnofurtherforabetter。”
　　Ursulasaid：“Isitso，perchance，thatnowsheisfreeandhathnaughttofear，shehathnoneedforguile？”
　　“Hailtotheeforthyword，lady。”quothRedhead；andthenhewassilent，gloomingsomewhatonRalph。
　　ButRalphsaid：“Nay，myfriend，Imeantnoharm，butIwaswonderingwhathadbefallentobringyoutwosoclosetogether。”
　　“Itwasfearandpain，andthehelpingofeachotherthatwroughtit。”
　　saidRedhead。SaidUrsula：“GoodCaptain，howwasitthatsheescapedtheuttermostofevilatthetyrant’shands？sincefromallthatIhaveheard，itmustneedsbethathelaidtheblameonherworkingforhermistress
　　ofmyflightfromUtterbol。”
　　“Evensoitwas，lady。”saidRedhead；“but，asthouwottestbelike，shehadgotitspreadabroadthatshewascunninginsorcery，andthatherspellwouldnotendwhenherlifeended；nay，thathetowhomherghostshouldbearill-will，andmoreespeciallysuchanoneasmightcompassherdeath，shouldhavebutanilltimeofitwhilehelived，whichshouldnotbelong。
　　Thistale，which，soothtosay，Imyselfhelpedtospread，theLordofUtterboltrowedinwholly，socunninglywasittold；sothat，tomakealongstoryshort，hefearedher，andfearedhermoredeadthanliving。
　　Sothatwhenhecamehome，andfoundtheegone，lady，hedidindeeddeemthatthyflightwasofAgatha’scontrivance。Andthisthemorebecausehisnephewhewhomthoudidstbeguile；Ipartlyguesshow
　　toldhimamade-uptalehowallwasdonebythespellsofAgatha。
　　Forthisyouthwasofallmen，notevensavinghisuncle，mostfullofmalice；
　　andhehatedAgatha，andwouldhavehadhersuffertheuttermostoftormentsandhetobestandingbythewhile；howbeithismaliceovershotitself，sincehistalemadeherevenmoreofawitchthanthelorddeemedbefore。
　　“Yea。”saidUrsula，“andwhathathbefallenthatevilyoungman，Captain？”SaidRedhead：“Itisnotknowntomany，lady；buttwodaysbeforetheslayingofhisuncle，ImethiminawoodalittlewayfromUtterbol，and，themoodbeingonmeItiedhimneckandheelsandcasthim，withastoneroundhisneck，intoadeepwoodlandpoolhighttheRam’sBane，whichisinthatsamewood。Well，astomytaleofAgatha。
　　Whenthelordcamehomefirst，hesentforher，andhisragehadsomasteredhisfearforawhilethathisbestwordwasscourgeandrackandfaggot；butshewas，outwardly，socalmandcold，smilingonhimbalefully，thathepresentlycametohimself，afoundthatfearwasinhisbelly，andthathemightnotdowhathewouldwithher；whereforehelookedtoitthathowevershewereusedwhichwasillenough，Godwot！sheshouldkeepthesoulinherbody。
　　Andatlastthefearsomountedintohisheadthathemadepeacewithher，andevencravedforgivenessofherandgavehergifts。Sheansweredhimsweetlyindeed，yetsoasheandallotherswhowerebystanding，ofwhomIwasone，
　　mightwellseethatshedeemedsheowedhimadayinharvest。
　　Asforme，heheededmenaught，andIlaylowallImight。
　　Andinanywiseweworethetimetillthegreatdayofdeliverance。”
　　TherewithdroppedthetalkaboutAgatha，whentheyhadbiddenhimallluckinhislife。Forsooth，theywerefainofhiswords，andofhiswayswithal。
　　Forhewasavaliantman，andbrisk，andonewhoforgatnobenefit，andwastrustyassteel；merry-heartedwithal，andkindandreadyofspeechdespitehisuplandishmanners，whichalifenotalittlerudehadthrustonhim。
　　OfTheirRidingtheWaste，andofaBattleThereonTheysleptinnohousethatnightnorformanynightsafter；
　　fortheywerenowfairlyonthewaste。TheyborewiththemalighttentforUrsula’slodgingbenights，andtherestofthemsleptonthefieldastheymight；orshouldtheycometoathicketorshaw，theywouldlodgethemtheresoftly。
　　Victualanddrinkfailedthemnot，fortheyborewhattheyneededonsumpter-horses，andshotsomevenisononthewaywithal。
　　Theysawbutfewfolk；forthemostpartnaughtsaveafowlerofthewaste，orapeat-cutter，whostoodtolookonthemen-at-armsgoingby，andmadeobeisancetothetokenofUtterbol。
　　Butonatime，thefifthdayoftheirjourney，theysaw，inthemorning，spearsnotafewstandingupagainstathicket-sideintheoffing。
　　Redheadlookedunderthesharpofhishand，andlaughedasthoughhewereglad，andsaid：“Iknownotclearlywhatthesemaybe，butitlookethlikewar。Now，knight，thisisbesttodo：
　　holdwiththeethreeofourbestmen，sothatyemaysafeguardtheLady，andIwiththeotherswillprickonandlookintothis。”
　　“Nay。”saidRalph，“thoumaystyetbeapaidofaman’said；
　　andiftherebestrokesonsaleinthecheaping-steadyonder，Iwilldealalongwiththee。LeavethythreemenwiththeLady，andletuson；weshallsoonbeback。”
　　“Nayoncemore，dearlord。”quothUrsula，“Ifeartobeleftaloneofthee，anditismeetthatthoufreemefromfear。Iwillridewithyou，butthreehorse-lengthsbehind，soasnottohinderyou。
　　Ihavebeenworsebesteadthanthisshallbe。”
　　“Itisgood。”quothRedhead，“letherridewithus：
　　forwhyshouldshesufferthepainoffearinthelonelywaste？
　　Butletherdoonahauberkoverhercoats，andsteelcoifoverherhead，forshaftandboltwillofttimesgoastray。”